HANNAH GEORGAS: ‘ALL THAT EMOTION’ ALBUM REVIEW

‘All That Emotion’ is the fitting name given to Canadian Indie-pop singer Hannah Georgas’ latest LP - due for release this Friday. Produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, who most recently made headlines for his work on the surprise Taylor Swift album, ‘All that Emotion’ is the empowerment anthem that sneaks up on you. Like in a movie scene where the main character takes a step back and sinks into a retrospection that will soon propel them towards their final turning point, the album feels like a realisation; It’s brave and defiant.

I don’t think this is an accident, because a similar narrative plays out in each of the songs on the album; lyrics like, ” I always seem to be reminded / love is change / I know love is change” in ’Change’ and ”Maybe I don’t want her to know / But I fly free in my mind sometimes / and I know all the other shit I could leave behind” in ’Just a Phase’, create a window into Hannah’s mind as she reflects on aspects of her own life and relationships, edging closer and closer to her point of no return. 

The linear narrative structure of each song might have made for uneventful listening if it wasn’t for the disconnect between the yesteryear melody and the modern beat that ripples through it. The combination forces a dissonance into the music and creates a sound that is essentially a clash of eras, making Georgas’ timeless voice stand out even more.

The album appears to tell the story of a woman shedding her insecurities like a second skin and coming out vulnerable but ultimately stronger on the other side of heartbreak. The music still reverberates with nostalgia; it’s not emotional, so much as reminiscent of past emotions, now warped and softened by the perspective of hindsight. It’s gentle, rippling, and almost hesitant. But overall, it gives you a sense of raw honesty that sometimes tips over into vulnerability. 

In spite of the undercurrent of trepidation in the face of change that runs through the whole album, every song leaves you with a steadily growing glimmer of hope, so that, by the time the last song, ’Cruel’, ebbs out, you find yourself feeling empowered and ready for the next turning point in your own life. I can’t think of a better feeling to leave your listener with - especially now in these uncertain times. 

‘All That Emotion’ is out on Friday 4th September and will be available on all streaming platforms.